Ravens playing time trends through 12 games

Twelve games down. Four to go. Yes, we are at another quarter pole, so let’s dig into the third quarter snap counts to see which playing time trends have developed. These official numbers, which come courtesy of the NFL, are pretty interesting due to the return of Terrell Suggs and injuries to other key Ravens players.

--- Suggs played 226 snaps in the team’s past four games after playing 98 in his first two after returning from a torn right Achilles tendon. That’s an average of 56.5 snaps per game, a total that would be a little higher had he not torn his right biceps in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s last-second loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

--- Fellow outside linebacker Paul Kruger has made more sacks and impact plays with Suggs back in the lineup, but he has actually played less than rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. Upshaw played 179 snaps the past four games, eight more snaps than Kruger, who is thriving as a part-time pass rusher. Albert McClellan has seen a dip in snaps, playing just 123 snaps, some coming at inside linebacker due to injuries.

--- With Ray Lewis out with a torn triceps, Jameel McClain played 284 out of a possible 287 snaps the past four weeks. Dannell Ellerbe had played every snap before getting knocked out of the San Diego game. That meant more defensive snaps, though not many, for Brendon Ayanbadejo (48) and Josh Bynes (17).

--- Cornerback Cary Williams has played more snaps (892) than any other Ravens defender this season, which is significant considering many didn’t even think he would start this season. And with the injuries to Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith, Williams has played twice as many snaps as every other cornerback. Corey Graham played 281 out of 287 snaps the past four games and Chykie Brown played 146 as the third cornerback.

--- Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata played at least 50 snaps in every game and 172 overall since watching his teammates thump the Oakland Raiders from the sidelines. With defensive end Pernell McPhee sitting out injuries, Arthur Jones got 142 snaps the past four games. Rookie defensive end DeAngelo Tyson also saw a bump in snaps, playing 79. But Bryan Hall has not benefited, playing only eight snaps since the Oakland game.

--- While running back Ray Rice’s workload is once again being scrutinized, rookie Bernard Pierce is getting more playing time. He has averaged 14.5 snaps per game the past four weeks.

--- Fullback Vonta Leach has been on the field more often than he hasn’t been, playing 145 of 284 snaps the past four games.

--- Center Matt Birk hasn’t missed a snap since Week 1. He played all 284 offensive snaps over the past four weeks. Rookie center Gino Gradkowski played six snaps at guard against the Raiders, but that’s it on offense. He has mostly played on special teams.

--- Second-year wide receiver Tandon Doss has seen his role increase, cutting into the snaps of veteran Jacoby Jones. Doss played 68 snaps the past four games while Jones played 94 (47 of those came in the comeback win over the San Diego Chargers). LaQuan Williams played his only offensive snaps (four) against the Raiders.

--- Rookie Asa Jackson played 24 snaps on special teams in his first two NFL games, but none on defense.